Ag News: Financing Young Farmers

**Financing is a major hurdle for young farmer, but the 2018 farm bill includes changes to make it easier for young farmers to do business by not only increasing farm ownership loan limits, but also operating loan limits.

According to agweb.com, FSA can currently guarantee standard operating loans and farm ownership loans up to $1,399,000 and make direct operating and farm ownership loans for up to $300,000. The 2018 farm bill bumps those to $1,750,000 and $400,000 respectively.

It’s reported the Walt Disney World Company bought the BK Ranch near the master-planned community of Celebration, founded by Disney in 1994.

The Osceola County ranch IS zoned for development, but despite prospects for another resort community, local real estate broker Jerry McGratty believes Disney may opt to keep the land as is for use as a conservation area to aid in water management for the park.

**In an, ‘If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’ move, Altria, the nation’s leading tobacco company, plunked down a $12.8 billion for a 35% ownership stake in Juul Labs, maker of the country’s most popular e-cigarette.

As reported in Time.com, Juul, now valued at $38 billion, will remain independent, though it will now have access to Altria’s “infrastructure and services.”

Both companies claim, despite the contradiction, it will help, not hinder, efforts to switch smokers.